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The major U.S. presidential candidates highlighted their positions on the Iraq war in high-profile Senate hearings that featured testimony¹ from the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus. Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama returned to Capitol Hill Tuesday to take part.

在广受注目的参议院听证会上，美国总统大选的主要对手阐述了自己在伊拉克战争问题上的立场，驻伊拉克美军最高指挥官彼德雷乌斯也在听证会上作证。共和党参议员麦凯恩、民主党参议员克林顿和奥巴马星期二都返回国会参加听证会。

The televised Senate hearings offered the presidential candidates a high-profile setting to discuss their views on the Iraq war, which many Americans now oppose.

由电视转播的听证会为角逐美国总统职位的对手提供了一个广受注目的场合，讨论自己对伊拉克战争的看法。

Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who are battling for the Democratic Party nomination² for president, renewed their calls for a gradual withdrawal³ of U.S. troops from Iraq.

正在争取民主党总统候选人提名的参议员克林顿和奥巴马再次呼吁美军逐步撤离伊拉克。

Senator Clinton made her comments at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

克林顿参议员在参议院军事委员会的听证会上表示：

"I think it is time to begin an orderly process of withdrawing our troops, start rebuilding our military and focusing on the challenges posed by Afghanistan, global terrorist groups and other problems that confront America," she said.

“我认为现在是开始按步就班地撤出美军的时候了。我们要开始重建美军并把注意力集中在阿富汗、全球恐怖组织等美国面临的挑战上。”

Senator Obama, speaking during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing later in the day, said setting a timetable for a troop withdrawal would help increase the pressure on Iraqis to make necessary political compromises.

奥巴马参议员在随后举行的参议院外交关系委员会的听证会上说，设立撤军时间表有助于向伊拉克施压，促使他们作出必要的政治妥协。

"Nobody is asking for a precipitous withdrawal, but I do think it has to be a measured, but increased pressure," he said.

他说，谁都不是要求突然撤军，但是他确实认为有必要适量地逐步加强对伊拉克的压力。

Obama also called for a surge in diplomacy⁴, including talks with Iran, in an effort to stabilize⁵ Iraq.

奥巴马也呼吁大力加强外交手段，包括为了稳定伊拉克局势而与伊朗谈判。

Obama was an early critic of the decision to invade Iraq. He has often noted⁶ that Senator Clinton had voted to authorize⁷ the war. He used his committee appearance to reiterate⁸ that he continues to believe the decision to go to war was a massive, strategic blunder.

奥巴马最初反对入侵伊拉克的决定，他经常指出克林顿参议员曾投票赞同这场战争。他利用自己在参议院外交关系委员会作证的机会重申，他仍然认为伊拉克战争是一个巨大的战略错误。

In stark⁹ contrast to Senators Obama and Clinton, Senator John McCain warned against withdrawing U.S. troops before stability is established in Iraq.

麦凯恩参议员的观点与克林顿和奥巴马参议员形成鲜明对照。他警告说，不能在伊拉克局势稳定之前撤出驻伊美军。

"The promise of withdrawal of our forces regardless of the consequences will constitute a failure of political and moral leadership," he said.

他说：“不计任何后果地撤出美军的承诺将导致领导层在政治和道义上的失败。”

McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and his party's presumed presidential nominee¹⁰, warned that a precipitous withdrawal could unleash¹¹ sectarian tensions - leading to a full scale civil war that could destabilize the Middle East.

麦凯恩是参议院军事委员会首席共和党人，他很有可能获得共和党总统候选人的提名。他警告说，突然从伊拉克撤军可能会激化教派间的紧张局面，导致全面内战，并可能扰乱中东局势。